THE STORY OF BBC WEBWISE FOR AFRICA

Imfundo is committed to creating partnerships that deliver innovative ICT for education solutions across Africa.  In order for poor people to make full use of the potential of computers and the internet, it is essential that they can have access to free and easy to use ICT training materials.  Working with the BBC and some of our local African partners, Imfundo has therefore funded the development of a free interactive CD-ROM, Webwise for Africa, that is designed to provide such basic ICT training in an enjoyable and easy to use format.

This CD-ROM builds on the BBC’s extensive experience in developing educational resources.  In 1998 The BBC launched a CD-ROM, which served as a Beginners’ Guide to accessing and using the internet.  This was called the Webwise experience, and was designed to ease novice users into their first ‘live’ online experiences. The CD was very well received and subsequently used across the country in 5,000 BBC Learning Centres, libraries, schools, Further Education (FE) colleges and community centres. BBC Webwise provided a starting point for initiatives such as Wired-Up Communities and between 2000 and 2003 approximately 500,000 people have used the resource as a primary tool to acquire basic internet skills. 

Working in partnership, the BBC and Imfundo decided to reversion the training package so that it would be of relevance to educational stakeholders in the African context. To ensure that the CD-ROM was reversioned in the most appropriate way it was crucial for African stakeholders to be involved in the process.  Such involvement also supported Imfundo’s wider remit to help develop and build capacity and understanding of ICT in Africa.

The consultation process for the reversioning of the CD-ROM took place between April-June 2003 and involved the following activities: 

·         Workshops in Ghana with teacher trainers and other educators, specifically addressing the amendments that would be needed for Webwise for Africa as well as a more general contribution by the BBC in building capacity in the role of ICT in supporting teacher education.

·         More formal evaluation and feedback on Webwise, from ICT and education experts from a wider range of African countries including Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa  (organised by Imfundo )

·         Discussions with members of the Imfundo team at DfID 

Research conducted by other independent Imfundo consultants (including a review of ICT training packages undertaken by a South African based contracted consultant which reviewed all major African websites in the field)

Back to Learning Resource Menu     Next